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Designations

• Scheduled Monument 1013266: MEDIEVAL MOATED SITE AND TUDOR RUINS, LAUGHTON PLACE
• SHINE: Laughton Place, Laughton : Multi-period features

Summary

Moated manor house, rebuilt in 1534 fallen into ruin by the C18th. A 16th century brick tower remains standing in the middle of a water filled homestead moat.

Monument Types

• MANOR HOUSE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• MOAT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• TOWER (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Description

(TQ 483114) Laughton Place (NR) [1]
The original home of the Pelham family. The moated house was rebuilt by Sir William Pelham in 1534 but ceased to be the principal residence of the family after the construction of Halland House in 1595. The house at Laughton fell partly into ruins in the 18thc when a farmhouse was built round the tower. This was in existence in 1930, but now only the tower is left. The moat still exists. [2]
The manor of Laughton had been forfeited to the crown at the end of the 14thc and it is probable that it was granted to Sir John Pelham by Henry IV, but what the character of the building was, whether fortified or not, is not known. Probably it was ruinous by 1534 when Sir William built the mansion. [3] The 16thc brick tower is the only extant remains of Laughton Place. It is in a state of disrepair and mutilated by the demolition of the later farm buildings. Surrounding the tower is a part water-filled homestead moat measuring overall c140.0m by c110.0m and c2.0m deep, with a retaining bank on the north and west sides. See GP. Published 1:2500 survey revised. [4]
Excavation has revealed a medieval timber bridge along the north eastern side of the moat and at the north corner, part of a timebr conduit, possibly medieval. A Tudor brick curtain wall around the eastern half of the site was discovered, incorporating two octagonal corner towers, four internal 'turrets', a possible gateway or gatehouse, a main double span bridge on the south western side of the moat and a footbridge on the north eastern side. Finds have been deposited in Barbican House Museum, Lewes. [5]
Laughton Place was the original home of the Pelham family. The moated house was rebuilt by Sir William Pellham in 1534 but ceased to be the principal residence of the family after the construction of Halland House in 1595. The manor of Laughton had been forfeited to the crown at the end of the 14th century and it is probable that it was granted to Sir John Pelham by Henry IV, but what the character of the building was, whether fortified or not, is not known. Probably it was ruinous when Sir William built the mansion. The house at Laughton fell artly into ruins in the 18th century when a farmhouse was built round the tower. This was in existence in 1930, but now the 16th century brick tower is the only extant remains of Laughton Place. It is currently in the process of restoration, having been mutilated by the demolition of the later farm buildings. Surrounding the tower is a part water-filled rectangular moat, with a retaining bank on the north and west sides. [6]

Sources

Associated Events

• Field observation on TQ 41 SE 4
• LAUGHTON PLACE
• Medieval Moated Sites, East Sussex : Archaeological Survey

Associated Monuments - none recorded

Associated Finds - none recorded

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